diff --git a/drivers/staging/octeon/ethernet.c b/drivers/staging/octeon/ethernet.c
index fb568a935eef..a8f780e95e0a 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/octeon/ethernet.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/octeon/ethernet.c
@@ -670,7 +670,7 @@ static int __init cvm_oct_init_module(void)
 
 			if (register_netdev(dev) < 0) {
 				pr_err("Failed to register ethernet device for POW\n");
-				kfree(dev);
+				free_netdev(dev);
 			} else {
 				cvm_oct_device[CVMX_PIP_NUM_INPUT_PORTS] = dev;
 				pr_info("%s: POW send group %d, receive group %d\n",
@@ -756,12 +756,12 @@ static int __init cvm_oct_init_module(void)
 			}
 
 			if (!dev->netdev_ops) {
-				kfree(dev);
+				free_netdev(dev);
 			} else if (register_netdev(dev) < 0) {
 				pr_err("Failed to register ethernet device "
 					 "for interface %d, port %d\n",
 					 interface, priv->port);
-				kfree(dev);
+				free_netdev(dev);
 			} else {
 				cvm_oct_device[priv->port] = dev;
 				fau -=
@@ -815,7 +815,7 @@ static void __exit cvm_oct_cleanup_module(void)
 
 			cvm_oct_tx_shutdown_dev(dev);
 			unregister_netdev(dev);
-			kfree(dev);
+			free_netdev(dev);
 			cvm_oct_device[port] = NULL;
 		}
 	}